Seals

The big blubbery kind not the ones on your suit.

Walking the coast, yesterday, we found the regular haunt of the colony of
seals that I frequently see from the window and given that this bit of coast
is regularly walked they are really quite non-plussed by the silly bright
creatures who don't come swimming.

I'm seeing an ideal photo opportunity but I would like a bit of guidance as
to what the form is for snorkelling with pinnipeds. Obviously common sense
dictates staying away when there are little 'uns and not getting too close
to the big groups but are there any published guidelines?

Cheers

CAS

PS. Just checked up on the Stoney Cove Temperature Finder
(http://stoneytemps.calumscott.me.uk) and we've hit 200 entries! Nice work!

CAS wrote:
> The big blubbery kind not the ones on your suit.
>
> Walking the coast, yesterday, we found the regular haunt of the colony of
> seals that I frequently see from the window and given that this bit of coast
> is regularly walked they are really quite non-plussed by the silly bright
> creatures who don't come swimming.
>
> I'm seeing an ideal photo opportunity but I would like a bit of guidance as
> to what the form is for snorkelling with pinnipeds. Obviously common sense
> dictates staying away when there are little 'uns and not getting too close
> to the big groups but are there any published guidelines?
>
> Cheers
>
> CAS
>
> PS. Just checked up on the Stoney Cove Temperature Finder
> (http://stoneytemps.calumscott.me.uk) and we've hit 200 entries! Nice work!
>
>
Pinnipeds eh, well, you learn something every day )
Anyway, the advice I was given when diving with seals was to flop onto
the bottom and wait for them to come to you, so sudden movements and no
chasing them. It worked on the last 2 trips to Lundy. As far as
snorkelling goes, I'd translate this to get soewhere near them and then
just float around and wait for them to come to you. After diving with
them, I surfaced and swam back to the boat and was followed by some.
I got some cracking shots (well, I think so) which I need to put up on
our website when Ive written the TR. I'll post when I've done it.
Cheers
Graham